Just as the OHAFC 2s had done the day before, the Veterans were consigned to defeat courtesy of a last-minute goal on Sunday morning, Witan Old Boys springing the offside trap to walk the ball in to earn a 3-2 win with the last kick of the game.

It was hard luck on the Harrow Vets, who had more than played their part in an entertaining fixture to open their 2017/18 friendly programme.

The visitors, the traditional opponents for the season opener, looked the more composed side in the opening spell of the game but rarely looked capable of troubling a strong Harrow back four including guest Old Wykehamist and Arthurian League legend Gordon Baker.

That was until half an hour in when a couple of comedic sliced clearances, one from Baker, the other from his centre-half partner Ed Thorn, landed at the feet of a disbelieving Witan forward and he finished comfortably past a stranded Andy Butler in the Harrow goal.

Shortly afterwards, the lead was doubled when a long ball down the inside right channel found the Harrow centre-halves struggling and a Witan striker ran on to finish smartly inside the far post.

Harrow had plenty to do but the hosts were to enjoy their own slice of luck soon afterwards when David Lederman's curled free-kick somehow slipped through the grasp of the Witan 'keeper and into the net. 'They must know each other,' quipped a slightly disappointed Molloy.

The hosts continued to enjoy the better of things with Lederman and Callum Butler raiding down the flanks, well supported by two players who rarely put in an appearance in friendly fixtures: Charlie Tweddle and Ru Hoffen. Both full-backs nearly saw their names in lights too, Tweddle with an excellent first-time strike from the edge of the box that was well saved and Hoffen with a driving run down the inside right channel that, disappointingly, ended with a tame shot.

Half-time saw the latter trot out his usual 'lunch with the mother-in-law' excuse, his departure seeing 63 year-old Pete Morris replace him at right-back - 'at least I've got a bit more pace behind me' Lederman informed Morris as they were introduced.

Harrow pressed forwards in search of an equaliser and again enjoyed plenty of the play, the midfield trio of Shah, Wyn-Evans and Molloy dominating the central areas.

The final ball continued to prove elusive however, with striker Phil Bearn, another sexagenarian, showing that his first twenty yards were definitely in his head, not in his feet.

Thankfully, the black and white stripes got the equaliser their play deserved courtesy of a set-piece. Lederman was aiming for the towering Baker but over-hit his delivery, only for it to sail straight onto the head of Molloy, who followed in behind to thump the ball home from eight yards out.

Both sides could have stolen the game in the closing minutes with one of the Witan subs somehow contriving to miss the target from no more than five yards after a one-two inside the box. Lederman then fed Bearn in but the striker screwed his shot just wide of the near post. Molloy went for the spectacular with a sweetly struck half-volley from long range but it sailed just over the bar. At the back, Tweddle replaced Butler in goal, the former's hamstring failing to last the pace.

As the referee signalled the final minute, Witan threw the ball forwards one last time. The striker seemed clearly offside as he collected the ball inside the box, but Andy Butler was struggling to push out following a challenge and the forward was allowed to dribble round the rather immobile Tweddle and tap into an empty net.

As soon as Harrow restarted the game the final whistle blew.

It was tough luck on the hosts in what had been a most entertaining fixture to start the Vets season with. The next visitors to Roehampton are the Winchester Vets in two weeks' time.

OHAFC Vets: A Butler (GK), R Hoffen, Thorn, Baker, Tweddle, Lederman, Wyn-Evans (c), Molloy, Shah, C Butler, Bearn. Sub: Morris